Pushed Into a Place of Power

March 19, 2018

“Consider it a sheer gift when tests and challenges come at you from all sides….don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.”
James 1:2-4 MSG

When you feel as though people or circumstances are working against you, could it be that you are being pushed into your place of power?

Could there be keys to greater provision, capacity, and influence hidden in those very things you feel are opposing you?

In last week’s 4 Point Broadcast, we talked about the transformational power hidden in the Law of Opposite of Effect.

We talked about the few essential keys and principles that will help you shift your mindset in order to overcome, become, and possess all God has for you.

If you missed last week’sBroadcast, I encourage you to go now to listen to thereplay!

I believe this will help you turn the tables on whatever you feel is opposing you.

If you have been struggling in any area of your life, learn to tap into the treasure hidden in every problem—but even more importantly, learn to harness the power residing in persecution.

Learn to not only survive, but thrive in times of persecution.

Behind every persecution is a principality aiming to keep you from God’s presence, truth, and best will for your life.

Know that when you are persecuted for righteousness sake, you are being positioned to inherit the Kingdom.

Persecution is what births you from one realm of power to another. It elevates your capacity by refining your faith, establishing your character, and allowing patient endurance to have its perfect work.

“Is your life full of difficulties and temptations? Then be happy, for when the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow. So let it grow, and don’t try to squirm out of your problems. For when your patience is finally in full bloom, then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete.”James 1:2-4 TLB

Ready for anything…full and complete.

Persecution builds your resistance—just like lifting weights builds your muscle. In the gym of life, you could think of the enemy’s opposition as your prophetic set of dumb bells!

The enemy is used to build your capacity for greater things.

The devil is used like a piece of equipment that enables you to undergo the “resistance training” needed to make you stronger.

Many have asked, “Why does God allow persecution?”

I’ll tell you why. God is simply allowing the enemy to build the muscles you’re going to need in the next realm of dominion and power.

You are being persecuted into a place of power!

Persecution comes to drive you out of the presence of God.

The word persecution is derived from a Greek word that means “to flee, make run, drive away; put to flight.”

Persecution always begins with rejection. But remember, it is Satan doing the persecuting, not people. It is the enemy of your soul who wants to keep you sidetracked and blind to the power of God working in your life.

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”Ephesians 6:12 NIV

Paul in his letter to the Ephesians instructs us to stand firm in the power of God we’ve been given.

God has empowered you through His Word and His Spirit to stand against every scheme of the enemy.

“Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit,which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests” (Ephesians 6:14-18 NIV).

The enemy persecutes you hoping that you will not realize that God has something great in your future—hoping that you will give up—that you will throw in the towel.

Understanding what is at work and why, will help you unlock the provision and capacity you need to move into greater realms of power.

It’s about what God is doing in you and for you because you are blessed.

Never doubt the hand of God is moving in the midst of persecution.

If you haven’t already, listen to the 4 Points replay where you will learn how persecution moved Isaac, Hannah, and Daniel into a place of blessing and abundance.

Herein lies an essential key that will move you into a place of power and prosperity—and even unlock the “wealth of the wicked” we read in Proverbs is stored up for the righteous. (See Proverbs 13:22.)